KNOWN for his overzealous tackles in the past - Boris Johnson found himself apologetic after sending a nine-year-old sprawling to the floor during a football match.

Determined to stop the schoolboy sprinting past with the ball, The London Mayor appeared to stick his foot out to stop his path - sending the youngster stumbling on to his hands and knees in the process.

The tackle sparked shouts of "referee!" from the sidelines but the boy, a pupil at Bonneville Primary school in Lambeth, south London, appeared unfazed getting straight back up and playing on, while the mayor waved his hands in a gesture of apology.

Mr Johnson and the former health minister Lord Darzi joined schoolchildren for a friendly kick-about in their suits, to promote a health report, which encourages children to get involved in sport.

However instead of promoting sports while on the field set up outside City Hall near Tower Bridge in London, the mayor found himself apologising for bad sportmanship.

He told Sky News: "That was a total mistake. I apologise very much. I was going for the ball."

This is not the first time Mr Johnson has been involved in an over-zealous challenge.

In 2006, he floored former German international, Maurizio Gaudino, in a rugby tackle during a charity football match.